In a 2014 award ceremony video, the host introduces the legacy of Edgar Helms, founder of the Goodwill movement, and announces Crystal McKenzie as the Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont’s HELMS Volunteer of the Year. McKenzie shares her perspective on personal finance, emphasizing the distinction between fixed and flexible expenses and the need for incremental debt repayment. Commentators describe her approach as an informative financial‑literacy spin that helps people prioritize needs, use money wisely, and improve their lives, all while she balances a full‑time job and volunteer teaching. The ceremony concludes with a formal recognition of her contributions to Goodwill’s mission of elevating leadership and meaningful service.
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Edgar Helms founded the movement that would grow into Goodwill Industries. He knew about the power of work to change lives. Today, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont honors a local volunteer who continues Helms' mission by helping elevate leadership and meaningful service. That volunteer for 2014 is Crystal McKenzie.
We talked about what our fixed expenses are versus what our flexible expenses are. And I tell people we didn't get into debt overnight, so we're not going to get out of it overnight. We just have to tackle it one bill at a time.
Her spin on financial matters is very informative. She lets you know That a lot of things in life you don't really need. There's ways to utilize money. You can use the amount that you make to make a better life, and that's, that's really the spin on what she does as a financial advisor.
Crystal is absolutely amazing, and one thing that's amazing about her is that she does this in addition to her full-time job. I feel that as I'm here teaching and training the students here, that is an opportunity for me to give back. That just pleases me.
Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont is proud to name Crystal McKenzie as the HELMS Volunteer of the Year.
Thank you. Giving is truly my passion, and once you understand what God has called you to do, you can live life with true purpose. Giving back and helping others go hand in hand. So now you see what a little goodwill can do. So a big thank you goes to Goodwill for honoring me Thank you, Goodwill, for honoring me with the HAMS Volunteer of the Year Award. It is truly an honor and a privilege. My love for this organization is rooted through both my personal and professional life. Back in the 1980s, when my aunt suffered a stroke, it was the Goodwill Skill Training Program that provided vocational rehab when she could no longer perform in her medical profession. When I learned that my community— that when I learned that Bank of America Community of Volunteers partnered with Goodwill in financial literacy, I signed I signed up and it has been a great journey over the last several years empowering individuals to take charge and control of their finances. When you see the light bulb go off in a student's mind on a tip or a nugget of information, it makes this all worthwhile. The environment at Goodwill is energetic and contagious. The receptionist, Mahalia Jones, always has a smile on her face And at 8:30 on a Monday morning, that's a welcome perk. I wouldn't be here today without the support of a few people I would like to recognize. I'd like to thank my family and friends for their support, our awesome Bank of America financial literacy team, and my management who allow me to do this during my workday. At Bank of America, our motto is, we're better when we're connected. So I encourage everyone here to find a way to give back to our community, either through various volunteer efforts or make a monetary donation. And remember, all it takes is the power of one. Thank you. Thank you.
